Chicken Breeds and Characteristics

Flashcards covering different breeds of chicken categorized by their primary use, origin, physical traits, and egg-laying capabilities.

Breed Distinguishing Physical Traits

The criteria used to identify chicken breeds, including size, plumage color, comb type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg color, and place of origin.

Australorp (Australian Orpington)

A dual-purpose hen that holds the world record for egg output in one year with $364$ eggs; it typically weighs $5-6\,lb$ and only the Black variety is recognized in the United States.

Delaware

A dual-purpose bird and good forager that lays large brown or brown-tinted eggs numbering $100$ to $150$ per year, which was originally intended to be the broiler bird of the US.

New Hampshire

A breed originating from a specialized selection of Rhode Island Reds, known for early feathering and laying approximately $200-280$ large brown eggs per year.

Buckeye

A breed originating in Ohio in the late $19th$ century that is active, cold-hardy, known for catching mice, and lays about $200$ medium-sized brown eggs per year.

Plymouth Rock

A hardy, non-aggressive bird that lays $200-280$ medium brown eggs per year, with the Barred and White varieties being the most common.

Speckled Sussex

An intelligent, mahogany-colored bird with white and black tips that becomes more speckled with each molt and lays $200-350$ large light brown eggs per year.

Leghorn

A prolific egg layer originating in Tuscany, Italy, in the early $1800's$ that can lay approximately $300$ large white eggs a year and weighs around $5-6\,lb$.

Cornish cross

The quintessential meat chicken originating from Cornwall County, England, which grows so fast it must be butchered to avoid suffering and lays only $100-120$ eggs per year.

French Bresse

A costly breed from France fed a special diet monitored by the French Agriculture Department, known for superb tasting meat and laying $250$ large golden brown eggs per year.

Jersey Giant

The largest purebred chicken, developed around $1870$ by John and Thomas Black in New Jersey, with mature roosters weighing $13\,lb$ and hens weighing $10\,lb$.

Brahma

A friendly, docile breed named after the Brahmaputra River in China and India, appearing in Light, Dark, and Buff varieties and laying $150$ medium brown eggs per year.

Cochin

An ornamental breed from ancient China also known as \"Shanghai\" birds; they are friendly and peaceful but prone to broodiness, averaging $160$ large brown eggs per year.

Faverolles

A breed described as talkative, curious, friendly, and somewhat scatterbrained.

Orpington

A very calm, friendly, and curious bird that is never in a hurry.

Polish

An ornamental breed known for a large pom-pom crest on its head resembling military hats; they lay about $200$ medium white eggs and require frequent crest checks for eye health.

Sultan

A poor egg layer created centuries ago as a bird of leisure and pleasure, noted for being a good choice for house hens or therapy birds.

Silkies (Chinese Silk Chicken)

A docile breed from ancient China with feathers that do not latch, resulting in a fur-like appearance; they are famously friendly and love to be cuddled.

Phoenix

A German breed created from the Japanese Onagadori, characterized by a long tail that can reach several feet in length.

Onagadori

The original Japanese long-tailed chicken which possesses a non-molting gene, allowing tails to reach recorded lengths of $27\,ft$.

Transylvanian Naked Neck (Turken)

A hardy meat bird with a neck completely devoid of feathers due to a genetic issue, making it sensitive to extreme heat or cold weather.